Pa. Senate moves swiftly on jury commissioner bill
HARRISBURG – State lawmakers are moving quickly on a bill to allow counties to abolish the office of jury commissioner after the state Supreme Court last month threw out a 2011 law under which 42 counties had eliminated the office.
The state Senate approved the bill Tuesday, 38-to-12.
The high court threw out the law on grounds that it violated the state constitution’s requirement that bills be confined to a single subject.
Two jury commissioners of different parties serve in each county.
They develop procedures to pick jury lists, make sure jurors are chosen fairly and manage people who are called to serve.
The Pennsylvania State Association of Jury Commissioners is seeking a court order to put elections for jury commissioners on the May 21 primary ballots in 52 counties.